001Hello and welcome to the Monday, April 28th, 2025 Hillsbor Township Board of Education meeting and public hearing on the budget. In accordance with the state sunshine law of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of the Hillsboro Township Board of Education was provided on January 8th, 2025 to the Hillsboro Beacon and the Courier News. Uh Mr. Eard, if you could we please take role. Mr. Davis here. Miss Jackson here. Miss Craig here. Miss Lanning Beer here. Mr. Lee Miss Nurse. Miss Stats here. Mr. Heo here. And Mr. Murray here. We have a quorum. We'll now take a motion to move into executive session. Whereas the open public meetings act chapter 231 laws in 1975 provide that a public body may exclude the public from a portion of that meeting of which the public body discusses
002certain matters for which confidentiality is required as per permitted in section 7B of the act resolved by the board of education of the township of Hillsboro and the county of Somerset state of New Jersey as follows. The matters to be discussed are a personal matter and legal matters. Uh the matters discussed in executive session shall be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Can I get a motion and second? So move second. All in favor? We'll be back around 7:30. Thank you. Hello and welcome back to the Monday, April 28th, 2025 Hillsboro Town of Township Board of Education meeting and public hearing on the budget. Uh we are now back from executive session. So with that, Mr. Eard, if we could please take role. Mr. Davis here. Miss Jackson here.
003Miss Craig here. Miss Lanny Beater here. Mr. Lee here. Miss Nurse here. Miss Stats here. Mr. Hugh here. And Mr. Ring here. We have a quorum. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and justice all right I would like to acknowledge the correspondence as listed and I guess at that point we're going to begin the public hearing on the budget. So um not to steal your thunder completely but we do have for those who have looked at the agenda we have two budgets on the agenda. Uh the one budget is uh option one is the uh final budget using the full tax levy incentive option. Um the other one is the motion
004to approve the final budget that was previously the tenative approved budget. Uh the way procedurally that we will go through this is we'll obviously have the presentation on the budget or budgets. Um we will then have public comment on the specifically on the budget items. Um and then we will discuss how we want to move forward. At the end of the day, we either need to uh keep or amend option one uh and then remove option two or we need to remove option one, go forward with option two. So, we're not approving two budgets tonight. They're both the two, I'll call it the extreme options, the full tax levy incentive or the original proposed budget with the with the cuts. Um, unfortunately, we did receive late today notification to basically continue what you're doing. We
005haven't given a final decision on the review of the items you've been provided. So we are going a little blind is not the right term but if we go and let's say for example we do approve option one as is um the state may come back to us and say that thing one thing on your agenda which was not um we do not approve that item. We do have example from another budget from another district where they I think requested 11 something million and we're told one,000 item was removed from what was approved. So I don't know what to expect. I don't think any of us do at this point. Everything seems to be a guess with the state with the department of education. So, uh we will do our best tonight to have a
006discussion, make a good decision, and then wait and see from the state. So, uh as I mentioned, we will start with the with the presentation of the budgets and then we'll move on to public comment and then board discussion. All right, I'll pass it over to Superintendent. Thank you, Mr. President. Also, thank you for uh allowing me to just take a moment before I get into the budget situation. I didn't want this to get lost later in my superintendence report. We had a tough week in Hillsboro public schools last week and I want to thank um the outstanding leadership of Miss Fischer and the entire staff of Amsterdam Elementary School as well as leadership of Dr. Jenkins and the Sunny Meat School family at Amsterdam. Uh right when we came back from spring break, we
007lost a third grader named uh Brian Tapia. Uh losing a student is incredibly difficult uh for the parents, for the staff, for everyone. And Teresa Thai was a long-term uh very valued instructional assistant at Sunnyme Elementary School. Um, she was beloved by her staff and also I got a chance to speak to her husband who is really doing things in her honor. And the thing that really touched me about what he said when I said how much Sunny Me admired him said she was never one of those people who came home at the end of a workday tired, exhausted, not wanting to go back because Lord knows we've all been there, myself included, but to hear that kind of positivity and radiance from someone. So, I would just ask for like a brief moment of
008silence from everyone here uh in recognition of the tough week in um memory of both Brian and Teresa. Thank you. And thank you again to the Sunny Me and Amsterdam staff for everything you have done for the for the families. Moving on to our budget presentation. Um, you're going to see a lot of information here and I'll try to explain it as clearly as I can. Afterwards, there is public comment. There will also be board comment and I will try to help answer any questions uh that that do come up. So, since we passed the tenative budget presentation on March 17th, a lot has happened. Um the state notified the Hillsboro Township public schools that we were eligible to apply for the tax levy incentive grant. Then at April 7th, the board voted on a
009motion to submit the application not to take advantage of that at the time. Um and then held a community engagement night on April 10th in order to get community input on this option. And we were here I think for about three plus hours there about 150 people in the audience. So, we got to hear a good amount um from people uh during that time. The board did. Tonight, the board is holding its public hearing on the 2526 budget and as Mr. Marini said is considering two budget options. One that includes the full tax levy incentive grant and one is that is to improve the attentive budget as approved on March 17th. By the end of this meeting tonight, the board will adopt the final budget for the 2526 school year. and if it is one
010with the tax levy incentive that is still pending state approval but the board will be talking about that tonight as well as making decisions as we move into the budget. I want to remind everybody too is to one of the reasons why we are here consistently in this position in Hillsboro dating back many years looking at the state aid losses we've had uh our state aid baseline as I mentioned before has gone down the baseline itself has gone down $7.5 million since 2019 2020 cumulative loss of state aid in that time is over $26 million when you have a budget uh going in that direction it is difficult to make anything work which is why the board is considering ing this option. The other thing that I wanted to bring to people's attention, whether it's
011uh inquisitive board members, members of the public, sometimes people on social media, and sometimes the comments on social media are a little bit more harsh than the people who will speak face to face, is can't you guys budget? Can't you just figure this out? Can't you just do something? I want to say we're pretty good at what we do. The nine elected members of the board of education here spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the budget every year. Mr. Ecard's head is going to pop off at some point uh during his tenure here and it's something I'm working on hard too. What we have though, the way the state system is set up um for a variety of reasons is a structural deficit simply by existing each and every year we're in the
012hole. Every year we start on July 1st, we're in the hole going into next year. And I don't know if anybody's ever like made it clear as to why that is. So I'm going to give you some very round numbers. So if anybody looks at the numbers I'm about to put up and say, you know, they all end in zeros and I can't find something matching in the budget. I'm I'm showing you as an illustration for a point as to why we have a structural budget, a deficit, and why we're in this situation. And behind me is the slide that will explain it, which maybe hasn't been explained to the Hillsboro public before. And if I haven't done that, I apologize. And if other superintendents haven't done that as well, we're getting it right now.
013So, as a reminder, absent of waiverss, each year the board can raise the tax levy percent 2%. Used to be 4% many years ago. Now, it's 2%. So, right now, for us, that's about 2.3 million. If we went to the approximate $20 million option, that's about 2.9 million. We could raise it moving forward. That's the amount of revenue that we can generate in a year. That's it. That's what a cap is. So, knowing that, we also have other expenses that then exceed 2%. Some of the bigger expenses include planning for a state aid cut. This year, we got an additional $500,000 cut, but it was on top of the 1.2 million that we were given back for a moment last year. So, it was 1.7 million. Let's just round it up and say if you're
014planning for a $2 million cut in state aid, if not, great. But I think as superintendent I need to start planning for that. That's one major variable. Second major variable, health benefits. In any given year, we budget for an 8% to a 15% increase. So that's somewhere between an increase on our budget between 2 million and $3 million. Do we shop it around every year? We try to. We try to get the best deal possible. And sometimes 8 to 15% is the best deal possible. Additionally, sometimes there are some really um looks like exciting things out there that we can jump on. And as we start to investigate that, we find school districts who have engaged with certain um companies and maybe their employees aren't getting their medications on time, are having difficulty finding things
015covered. So, there needs to be that balance, but we always want to find cheaper good health care. Then as our employees roll over from one year to the next, depending on how many people retire, resign, move on, breakage with younger people coming in with lower salaries, the employee salaries from year to year range from about 2.5 million to $3.9 million. And those are done by by contract. And I'm happy to give a good um reasonable good reasonable does that work? Good reasonable raise to my employees because they deserve it. And we also want to recruit and retain the best. You can't make that line zero and say, "Hey, people come come and work in Hillsboro." It's not going to happen. The people on the ground are what make this place work because we don't have
016the resources. So, we have to make sure that we want to keep them. Then some general cost increases for and I I kind of underestimated here between gas, transportation, out of district pl you you name it, you know, supplies anywhere from a half a million dollars to $1.5 million depending on CPI, depending on inflation, things along those lines. If you add up those numbers with the green being positive and the red being negative, every year we start in a structural deficit between $4.7 million and $7.5 million. Now, many years ago, there was a 4% cap and we were getting state aid. If you do the quick numbers, if you double the amount that the board could raise in a 4% cap and there wasn't a state aid cut or we were getting state aid money,
017structural deficit is gone. Pretty much gone. But I want to make it clear to the members of the Hillsboro public and this is very very important that this is the reason why we are here every year. It's state aid. It's health benefits. It's uh paying our employees. It's the amount that we can raise. It's all of those factors. But the biggest one that has hurt us over time is state aid because if we were going in the right direction, we wouldn't have to be here. So this is just math. This is just numbers. We could shop some of these things around. We could cut those costs. Even if we got look look at that. there was no increase on health care. We're we're still over. So, I just want to make make it very clear
018that Mr. Record, I and the board, we are stewards of the taxpayers's money. Uh there's no sauna being built in my office. We're we're not doing outrageous things. This is just by existing from one year to the next. We are in the hole. And whatever the board decides here tonight, um I am going to be a good steward of those taxpayer dollars. Whether you tell me, "Hey, start dismantling the district as gently as you can." Or, "Here's the money, Mike. Make it work." So, we're not here in this position each and every year. But I want to make sure everybody understands why we are here. It's simple math. So, going back to the tenative budget, we had identified that there were going to be 24 staff members that would be or 24 positions that would
019be lost uh with the tenative budget as well as those cuts. And I want to detail those out and I could do that now because we've had the time to be humanistic and speak to these people. Um and even if uh like Mr. Marini said if we the board goes in the other direction still pending the state. So I wanted to make this very clear as to what's being lost in Hillsboro. We have several positions that are vacant. Uh six interventionist teachers uh are going to be retiring. We are not filling those positions. There'll be an Italian teacher uh lost at the middle school in Auton Road due to a retirement and a domino effect. Maintenance worker position has not been filled. Teacher of the deaf position has not been filled. Speech and language specialist
020in the district position has not been filled. A music teacher position has not been filled and will trickle down to being an orchestra teacher at the high school. And a secretary in central office for special education will not be filled. Those are positions that are currently not filled. You know, the the easier ones because you don't have to sit in front of someone and say, "Sorry, you don't have a job for next year." There are existing positions that are going to be eliminated as well. In central office, we'll be uh eliminating a purchasing secretary in Mr. Eert's office. We'll be eliminating four elementary teachers. Luckily, and I'll use luckily in quotes, this is due to enrollment, so we are still within class size guidelines. In a t in a good budget situation, I'd probably reallocate
021those positions elsewhere, but we'll be eliminating them. We'll be eliminating two German teachers. I think it's a German teacher and a half actually at the high school and middle school. We'll be eliminating two computer resource teachers, one at the high school and one shared between the middle school and on road intermediate school. Uh we'll be eliminating a student assistant coordinator at the high school. To make it clear, we still have two there. Um, so we're not eliminating all student assistant coordinators. Currently have two media specialists at the high school. One of those would be eliminated. And we will also be eliminating a curriculum supervisor position. And if that happens, I will be needing to speak to uh HPSA leadership about how we will be reorganizing in order to make that happen. One of the things
022that I did mention is that if we made cuts, it was going to touch everyone. There wasn't going to be, you know, every department. Um, there's not one school that's targeted. It's not staff versus administration. It's not non-certified versus certified or unaffiliated versus affiliated. If I do need to start dismantling things, I want to do it in this manner in as gentile a way as possible. There are other cuts too that we we did to make the tenative budget work. I'm going to give you the bigger ones rather than the micro ones. Um, we have a proposed uh rekeying project. You know, if you've been around any of the doors here in Auton Road School, uh we've re keyed those for safety and security reasons, and we want to move that on to other schools.
023It was in our budget. It's being pulled out. We're changing lease purchasing for security and techn technology upgrades. We're reducing some of our online assessments. Uh but I actually think that's a good thing for teachers because I think we over assessed to a certain amount. So, that was like a lowhanging fruit. Uh we're removing placeholders and planning services related to redistricting. So that's just more work on our administrative team to get the redistricting done. We would be reinstating paytoplay for curricular extracurriculars. There will be the elimination of courtesy busing which is something I was so proud to bring back this year and it was a a big priority of the board. Uh we did have funds being reserved for full day kindergarten looking down the road. We would have to eliminate those to make it
024work. there would be the elimination of middle school sports and there are other miscellaneous budget lines that are drawn down um you know a little bit here a little bit there when people say can't you just cut a little bit here a little bit there we we do do those things I wanted to give you a sense of what the big picture items so if the tenative budget goes through that's what's taking place I just wanted to be abundantly clear to the public after we created the tenative budget we received this option from the state and I'm not going to go over every point on this slide behind me, but it's here for the public to take a look at. And I want to make this clear. This option in the state is dependent on
025two things. Number one, that the state does approve what we ask for. And if you want to know what we asked for, it's going to come up in my presentation. And there's also an attachment with line items and specific amounts equaling that in the agenda. So, you can look at that. But number two, everybody's asking how does the board have this authority? How does the Department of Education have this authority? The board does not. The Department of Education does not. They are anticipating that the governor's appropriation bill, which has this wording in it, is going to pass. When the governor's appropriation bill passes, what's in it becomes law. So, the Department of Education is trying to get boards on the front side, not waiting until this does happen. But keep in mind, we're still waiting
026on those two variables. and we were eligible along with other districts because we are taxing below our local fair share and we're spending below our adequacy. We had to make sure that uh we used every ability to go through um any waiverss that we had which we are and that we were still spending below adequacy. We then had to show that we had needs to uh to for thoroughess and efficiency standards and we have to show that over time we reduced everywhere that we could which we certainly have. Again, if the board went to the full amount, there's a matching of 5% up to $20 million, which means there's a onetime $1 million incentive, which is part of what's in the budget as well. And again, this is all contingent upon final approval of the
027Governor's Appropriation Act. I want to make this very clear that the board again sitting here does not have the authority to do this. They will when the governor's appropriation um package passes, if it passes. So, that being said, we have a very detailed attachment line by line. I think there's 80 lines of uh accounting uh for what we would be bringing back. I'm going to give you the higher level overview so that the public can understand it. Mr. Eert can can put you to sleep with the numbers or something if you want. So, if the board went in this direction, all 4.6 million in cuts as outlined in the tenative budget, which I just talked about, would be restored. Uh, this would include courtesy busing, middle school sports, reinstating the suspension of paytoplay. Want to
028make it clear we're not bringing back the assessment tool. We'll save some money there. Restore several budget lines for services that may cut lower. and restore those 24 positions. But I do want to make it clear that when we restore those 24 positions, we are going to specifically look at need and if our elementary size uh if we get more registrants and we need to put one of those back in the elementaryaries, we put them there. If not, we reallocate those to where we have needs. And some of the needs we're looking at are at the high school. Um, we do want to offer electives and I've spoken to the board a couple of times already or the education committee a couple of times about a future schedule change for the high school which would
029benefit students in far as electives and also for a multi-tered support system. We would add a couple of positions. We'd hire a building monitor for evening activities and a healthysical education nursing supervisor. Those aren't three different supervisors. That's one supervisor. Um, and that used to be two positions that we have. So, we're trying to get back uh to and not have as big of a burden on our administrative team, but more importantly support our teachers. I can't tell you how often our physical education teachers uh sometimes feel like they are simply cast aside. They don't have a supervisor. We try to throw things together for them. Well, everybody should have a supervisor that they could rely on for support. We'd restore about $1.25 million in instructional supplies across the nine schools that were cut over
030many years. And I want to make it clear, a significant amount of those, if I have a couple principles here, uh would be a non-recurring expense. Uh we would want to get people back to where they need to go to plan, you know, uh instructional materials, furniture, whatever you need, but then we don't want to keep that baseline high every year in case for some of those expenses that I had said before. It is something we would whittle back over time. We were ready to eliminate online mental health services. It's actually being discontinued and we would like to be able to continue those. We do some needed software updates. As you can imagine, over time we need to spend money on our technological infrastructure just to keep things going. And my plan, people of Hillsboro,
031and I can't stress this enough, in the first year is to have about $15 million go towards nonrecurring costs, including updating the Hillsboro Middle School fax room. In case you don't know, it's a room I think we built a wall with closets or or curtains. We have multiple classes being taught in there. It's hot and we want to fix that. We want to replace the trailers at Triangle that are starting to fall apart. Uh we need to build a new bus garage because we can't even fit a bus in our budget garage to be fixed. We can't park enough buses there. That's why we have to outsource and we spend more money because of that. We want to go paperless so we're not paying for storage fees. We want to prep our rooms for full
032day. We want to re key all of our schools so we're on the same safety mechanism and address water remediation, lighting, and expansion joints right here at the ARIS infrastructure. We don't want our buildings falling apart. You may be looking at me right now and being and saying, you know, Mr. Vulpi, why are you putting so much of this money into non-recurring costs? Like, wouldn't it be better to have more more teachers over time? It certainly is. Absolutely. But in year one, one of the things I want to do is assure we're not here next year or the year after that. I want to be done trying to fix the Hillsboro budget and have something sustainable moving forward. So if about twothirds of what we do is in nonrecurring costs, but the recurring costs go
033higher in year two, some of those non-recurring costs go into recurring. And then maybe it's about 5050, twothirds of one. Then the next year there's more that goes towards recurring and less that goes towards non-recurring costs. Then hopefully by that point the state has done something with this budget because I'm saying it's going to take a couple of years. And what I'm trying to do is I'm trying to set us up for success for for multiple years. So when you're seeing that $15 million that's going towards some kind of projects, number one, these projects are needed for this school district. I mean we can't have expansion joints in this building falling apart. expansion joints fall apart. You know what happens? Building starts falling apart. All of these things are needed and it sets us up
034for long-term success. I don't want to come back to the people of Hillsboro. In case you didn't know, I think you do. All nine members of the elected board of education are Hillsboro taxpayers. I'm a Hillsboro taxpayer. There's Hillsboro taxpayers who are um sitting in the audience, some who are staff members. Nobody wants to be paying more taxes. But more importantly, nobody wants a board of ed coming to them every year saying, "Yeah, it didn't work out." I want this to work out for multiple years. And I just want to make it clear that's why so much of this year one money is going into nonrecurring costs. And I highlighted there there's an attachment on the board agenda. It's electronic. You can see the attachment if you if you really want to dig in on
035the details. Uh you can see all everything that we have listed right there. Knowing all that, uh Mr. record the business administrator is going to speak to budget options one and two uh and looking at what the difference is there. Thank you Mr. Vulpies. So for option one which does include the full tax levy incentive the general general fund budget would be 172727,228 $282. The grants and entitlements would be $1,938,997 and the debt service fund would be $2,196450 for a grand total of 176,862,729. The full tax levy incentive option is is include does include the full $22,931,626 that the state notified us we were eligible to increase the budget by. This increase is $21,931,626 in additional tax levy and 1 million of additional state aid which is the maximum for that option. The option two
036budget which is the tenative budget that was approved back on March 17th is $149,795,656 for the general fund. Again, for the grants and entitlements, it's $1,938,997. And for the debt service fund, it's $2,196,450 for a total of 153, no, I'm sorry, 153,931,13. The difference between the two again is the 22,931,626. So, moving on to the tax impact for both Hillsboro and Milstone. For Hillsboro in the option one budget, which includes again the full tax levy incentive, the 2025 tax rate would be 1.4551, which represents an increase to the tax rate of 0718 or 5.19%. When compared to the 2024 school tax rate for Hillsboro, this would translate into $8,645 in school taxes for a home assessed at the Hillsboro Township average of $594,89. In the option two budget, which is the tenative budget that was
037approved on March 17th, the 2025 tax rate will be one would be 1.3353, which represents a decrease to the tax rate of 048 or a minus 3.47% when compared to the 2024 school tax rate for Hillsboro. This would translate to $7,933 in school taxes for a home assessed at the Hillsboro Township average of $594,89. And for Milstone in the option one budget, again including the full tax levy incentive, the 2025 tax rate will be 1.2131, which represents an increase to the tax rate of 3296 or 37.31%. When compared to the 2024 school tax rate for Milstone, this would translate to $4,969 in school taxes for home assessed at the Millstone average of $49,598. In the option two budget again which is the tenative budget approved on March 17th the 2025 tax rate will be 1.056
038was which represents an increase to the tax rate of.1725 or 19.52%. When it's compared to the 2024 school tax rate for Milstone this would translate to $4325 in school taxes for a home assessed at the Milstone average of $49,598. And Mr. Mr. Bulpi, that concludes the tax information that I have. Thank you, Mr. Ecker. And I just want to say if there's um we had mentioned before that there was a accounting error of students between Milstone and Hillsboro. Um and I've worked hard with both municipalities to uh verify that information, including my central office, and we fixed that. And that's why Millstones seems so much higher this year because we were able to fix that and we have processes in place moving forward. But I did want to say one thing that this board is
039very um attuned to is our our senior citizen population. Again, nobody wants to see their taxes go up, but we think that for our seniors, it certainly hits hardest. So, I'm going to be making sure that we get some options out there in the community and also publicize uh ideas about the senior freeze, which many senior citizens may be aware of already. But what you may not be aware of already are the stay New Jersey efforts, which are actually starting in January of 2026. And there are some things that need to you need to qualify for. And this is all done through the state. It's not done through the board of ed. So, you don't apply here. But I wanted to make sure that the highlights of this that senior homeowners aged 65 and older
040with incomes of no more than 500,000 can receive half of their property t half off their property taxes or $6,500 maximum annually and the reduction would be a credit applied directly to the property tax bill beginning on January 1st, 2026. So we will help spread this information. Again, we don't run this organization or this uh effort. It's run by the state, but we will certainly help get this out to our senior citizen population so that they can take advantage of the current senior freeze as well as the state New Jersey stay New Jersey program which is starting in January of 2026. So, I wanted to make sure that everybody um is aware. We will continue to try to make people aware and um that concludes our our budget presentation for today. All right. Thank you
041very much. All right. Now, we will move on to public comment on the 2025 2026 school budget and action agenda. Public hearing on the 2025 2026 budget provides the opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed budget. Before you see your comment, you'll be asked to state your name and address. There is a three-minute limit on public comment. We very much welcome input from the public. During board meetings, there'll be two 30 minute per two 30 minute periods of time that the meeting will be open for public comment where members of the public are invited to comment, which they may do if they are attending in person. During the first public comment period, members of the public may comment about items that are listed on tonight's agenda for the board votes or the budget.
042Uh during the second public comment period, members of the public may comment on any school or school district issue that a member of the public feels may be of concern to the residents of the school district as per bylaw 0167. Specific to tonight's meeting, I want to point out there are two budget options being put forth for consideration and are available on the public agenda. We encourage members of the public to comment on these options now in order for board members to understand your thoughts before we ultimately decide on a particular budget option. Before you state your before you say you're coming oh this is a duplicate here. There may be a time when a member of the public makes a comment or ask a question about personnel hiring decisions. kind note the double hug
043meetings act and the privacy rights of public employees encompass there and do not permit the board to discuss personnel issues in public session. Now remember there are two budget options. They are not the only options. With the larger budget option there is the ability to amend. Um so just as you're providing your comment just understand the boundaries with which we are working in. Uh good evening uh Thomas Zobelli uh Upper Nishanic Court Hillsboro. Uh whoops. Well there we go. I lost my my notes for tonight. I don't know what happened, but Oh, here we go. So, good evening everybody. So, um it's a probably this is probably a moot point as I'm sure you've all had your internal conversations already and um I mean that's how the sausage is made. You have these internal conversations.
044you'll most likely have a decision be made and it's now just a formality as to how you probably will vote tonight. Um the cuts that were already proposed in the tenative budget before the state came forward with their proposal um you were prepared to make. Now not saying that those were easy cuts to make but you were prepared to make them. So, I really um would would encourage that we don't use what the state is potentially offering. And now that we know, we're not even sure what they're going to offer or because it's still in process. Um, I don't think it should be used I don't cover is not a good word, but I don't I don't think we should use it as a way to say as to a stay safe face or that
045now um now that we have this potential option that if we don't go forward with it that uh we're going to lose these positions and so forth, which you all were willing to make before the state came to you. So let's not pretend that you weren't willing to make tough decisions. Okay. And then um second in second to that is I know it has been said that the effective tax rate might drop but who really cares if the effective who cares if the effective tax rate drops but your taxes still go up? It doesn't really matter. So, um, I really am here to state, uh, most importantly that I feel that the voters should have a say when it comes to this. I know that that's probably not going to happen. You, again, you've probably
046all made up your minds more or less. Um, but I really do believe that in when we're talking of a size of a tax increase, potential tax increase of this magnitude, the taxpayers have a right to have a say as to whether or not they wish to see their taxes go up, stay the same, or the like. So, I thank you for your time and uh that will be it. Thank you very much. Appreciate your comment. Hello, Barbara Ore, Equator Avenue in Flagtown and also an educator at Hillsboro Middle School for 20 years. Hi, I'm Mary Beth Delissi, uh, Nine Statatch Drive, also a middle school illustrator, sorry, not illustrator, and um, been in the district for just about 20 years. First of all, I want to thank you all for your efforts. I know
047balancing the budget or coming up the budget is not an easy task. Um, in my almost 20 years of being in this district, I've taught struggling students from literacy 101 to reading intervention at the high school to read 180 at the middle school and now I'm an interventionist. Um our nation has embraced the multi-tiered systems of support which is um put students into categories of tier one, tier 2, tier three. Um and in this system of support, it builds on intervention and referral services and gives schools the tools to meet the academic behavioral health enrichment and the social emotional needs of all students. So ensure interventionists such as us and our colleagues provide extra support for our students who are most in need who are often several grade levels below where they should be. Um,
048in today's classrooms, especially literacy and math, where the numbers are just they're really high, a classroom teacher cannot be expected to meet the needs of her tier 1, tier 2, tier three students. Interventionists provide general education services for struggling students who don't qualify for special ed services. And um I saw that there are six intervention retirees and I know doc uh Mr. Vulpi that you said you know it's good that we don't have to tell teachers that they're losing their job but what do we tell the students who aren't going to receive those services um because of these unfilled positions? Um, I don't know where we're going to go in terms of this tax levy, how much we'll take or whatever, but I don't know what the priorities list is, so to speak, but these
049services for these kids are so integral. Just please keep that into your consideration. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. [Applause] Hi. Um, my name is Jack Sherasi, one Davenport Way. Uh, I first wanted to I first want to just start by saying um, thank you to all our board members. I really do appreciate all the work you do. We, it was said before, it's easy to criticize like through social media, but like face to face, I think people are less likely to criticize. Um, as I said before, my name is Jack Terasi and I'm the vice president of the senior class and of course a student at HHS. I wasn't planning on coming to speak tonight because I'm not a great public speaker, but I decided to come in um in support of my
050friend Sanjna at the board of edre and the rest of my fellow students. Although I am not a taxpayer yet, I feel it is important for the board and the parents to hear how these budget cuts will affect the students and teachers in the district. I believe it is in the best interest of the board to vote yes and increase the tax levy. The points I'm going to make are focused on the potential harmful effects that would occur if the cap isn't increased. A great example of what could happen to the Hillsbor district is what's currently going on in the Flemington school district. They had severe budget cuts and chose last year to not increase the tax levy. Last year they lost approximately 20 teachers. This year, because of that decision, there will potentially be
051over 60 positions cut, which includes 45 teachers, two school counselors, and two school nurses. That is over 65 teachers in two years. We do we won't lose that many teachers this year if we don't increase the tax levy, but this is only a preview of what will come as a result. Going specifically into Hillsboro High School, I believe that most of my fellow students would agree that the amazing teachers in in the school is what makes our high school special. Knowing that many of them could be out of a job is very upsetting and is harmful to the morale of this of the school and and the future students. Losing teachers will also be detrimental to class classroom sizes. My health class is is already 36 seniors. For those who haven't been in the classroom
052in a while, that's that's like a lot of that's a lot of students. Um, if this was an academic class, that would make it even worse. Health is important, but if this was an English class or a history class, having a teacher get to that many students is very hard. Um, if we lose teachers by not increasing the the levy, class sizes will increase, which negatively affects how students receive help from teachers and the relationship and the relationships they develop with those teachers. Recommendation letters are very important for college applications and these teach and many of these teachers go out of their way to write as many as they can while receiving no extra benefit for doing so. Bigger class sizes would result in teachers not being able to write as many of these recommendations
053as they previously could. And for many people who apply to college like me and other students, those recommendation letters are very important. The final point I'd want to make is that many of these teachers have put their hearts and souls into the school. During my time on student council, I've had the opportunity to work with amazing amazing teachers who have done a an immense amount of work. I understand they receive a stipen for doing this. However, the work they do significantly outweighs the little money they receive. Choosing to not increase the levy is choosing to severely hurt future students in the high school and all over the district. Originally, I wasn't concerned about the budget cuts being made to the district because I'd be leaving for college. However, I've come to understand that it would
054be a disservice to my sister who is still in high school, my four incredible student council adviserss, and the amazing teachers I've had throughout my high school career to not come up here today and share why I believe it is in the best interest for the board to raise the tax levy. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Hello, my name is Victoria Bra and I live on Tentali Ho Trail. I'm a junior at Hillsboro High School and the junior class vice president. I would like to thank the board for all their hard work and dedication and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be here today to represent the student body at large. Although I am currently only 17 years old and not a Hillsboro taxpayer, I would like to ask the board to increase
055the tax levy. As a student in the Hillsboro school district, I can speak personally to the effects of the budget cut. Due to the budget cut, beloved teachers, the backbone of our education, must be sacrificed. Following them comes school clubs and extracurriculars such as sports. Sports and clubs, although seemingly not the most important in regard to student education, are also a core to the student experience. Depriving students of the choice to participate in such extracurriculars would mean to deprive them of the true Hillsboro student experience, which builds morale throughout the young population of Hillsboro. The mission statement of Hillsboro High School is empowering all students to excel while finding purpose and joy in every aspect of their educational journey. How can extracurriculars not be seen as an important part of this mission? Sports and clubs
056in schools gives opportunity for students to engage in physical activity as well as a specific time set aside in order to do the things that they may not otherwise have time for or be given the opportunity for. Aside from this, these extracurriculars give students a chance to escape from their daily and often monotonous lives, which is especially crucial while they get older. Students may use extracurriculars to escape from unfortunate home lives, problems with mental health, and issues related to these. Depriving children of the opportunity may force the mental health of students to decline. I can speak for myself when I can say that sporting events are where you can find the foundation of school spirit. Football games, hockey games, as well as the most recent championship girls basketball game are perfect opportunities for the student
057body to come together and boost overall morale. Essentially, the conclusion here is that the budget cuts are detrimental to all aspects of student life, trickling into much further than education and even touching on mental health. Therefore, as a member of the student community here in Hillsboro, I ask with all respect that the board consider increasing the tax levy and that the taxpayers of Hillsboro understand that a small increase in taxes will benefit the younger generations of this town. Living in the 21st century in a place like Hillsboro, sacrificing staple opportunities for students should not be in the question. So finally, let's take this step to empower all students to excel in every aspect of their educational journey. Thank you. Thank [Applause] you. My name is AJ Sini. I am a second grader at Woodford. I
058will speak for the students that are too care to usually come out here. I would hate to see most of my favorite teachers fired, especially one that changed my life for the good. I would also hate to see her fired. I go with raising the tax levy. [Applause] Cindy Aini ski drive. AJ's mom is I think my claim to fame tonight. We did explain to him that the board had a chance to address the budget issues that have plagued the district for the better part of a decade. And um both being uh a resident here, a mom, um someone who's married to a teacher in Fington who was here with a three-year-old, which was not part of the plan, he thought maybe he could last through public comment, but it didn't work. um you know
059we see in our home the impact that teachers can have. We also see the impact that um staff reductions have on teachers when they face increased class sizes, less intervention services for their students. So I hope that this board will take the opportunity to address the funding challenges that have been ongoing um and really make a difference for our kids and our community. Thank you very much. Thank you for your comment. Just want to point out how impressive the students of this district are up there speaking. [Applause] Good evening. I'm Megan Murphy. I live at Jamestown Common in Hillsboro. Um I came and spoke at the previous meeting that you had about the budget and I'm here again tonight to please ask you to raise the tax levy in support of our teachers and students.
060Unfortunately, we find ourselves in this position of being underfunded for years and the deficit has gotten so large that it's come to this. But our students are depending on you. The homeowners here are depending on you to make this right, to help our students, to save our staff, to make Hillsboro schools even better. It can't happen with less money. Buildings don't fix themselves with less money. People don't come to work for no money. And with teaching not being a career that people are seeking very often anymore for more than obvious reasons, it's harder and harder to find excellent candidates. And you're not going to attract them with no money. You have to put money where it's important and it's in your teachers. The value of our homes is on the backs of our teachers, on
061the excellence of these schools. I heard a commercial the other day about homes.com and they were touting how upto-date their information was about school districts on class size ratios and all these things go that go into valuing our homes. So even if you don't have a child in the school district ever or anymore or yet it's important that we fund the schools for our kids and full day kindergarten has to happen. Unfortunately, my twins this year don't get that benefit. But to be one of the few districts in the entire state to not have full day kindergarten is inexcusable at this point other than the fact this funding is not happening. And again, we don't get full day kindergarten if we don't get funded. We need the tax money. We need the increased levy to
062make these things happen. Not to mention the high school that needs to be rebuilt. So, thank you very much for your consideration and thank you for your dedication to the students here. Thank you very much. Uh Dan Murphy, I live at uh 2001 Jamestown Common. My wife just eloquently spoke. I want to thank you all for your time and for everything you do. Um I didn't know I was going to be here until about an hour and a half ago. Um, so my stance on it is a teacher gave me guidance. I came to Hillsboro in ' 86. I went through Hillsboro High School. Were it not for my shop teacher, I probably would have wound up in a series of dead-end jobs because I thought I was going to be a rock star and
063that was the end of it. Um, he found out that I hadn't taken SATs or done anything through his wife who ran the guidance office. and he guided me to a school where I was very successful. And off the back of that, I will say, I've been in construction my entire adult life, so I can see how much Hillsboro is building. Where are those kids going? Seriously, where are the kids going? That's number one. And number two is wi without those teachers, it's the same thing in my industry. Those teachers aren't going to come, as my wife said, if there's no money for them. It's often quite unfortunately a thankless job. And I see it in the trades where for every five guys that pass away or retire, there's one to fill their shoes. And
064if teaching is becoming a less attractive option, it's certainly not going to be made any better if there's not any money to fix the infrastructure of the schools or hire new teachers. So I would implore you to re reconsider if you've already voted another way. So thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Thank you. Hi, Amy Salinger, teacher at Autton Road Intermediate School and HA Treasure. Um, I just want to first give a shout out to all of the student speakers tonight. They were truly amazing and a reminder of part of why we do what we do every day as the teachers and staff in this district. Um, I'm here to obviously talk about the decision that you have to make. At the last board meeting, I gave some numbers that I don't have
065with me tonight, but about the comparing Hillsboro's overall budget to our surrounding districts that are likes or bigger than us and how our budget was extremely um below theirs. So, looking at um option number one, I believe it is that would bring it up to about 174 million. That's still below I believe all of the the other districts that I mentioned at the prior meeting. So, I just wanted to reiterate that and I think bringing it up to that level will will serve not uh not only the district now but the district in the future and that's important to think about especially with all the other points that were raised tonight. Um it's a tough decision. Tough decisions are hard but I'm I'm confident that um together you're going to make the right decision and
066do what's right for Hillsboro for right now and its future. And I respectfully hope you choose option one. Thank you. Thanks for your comment. [Applause] Henry Goodwillsboro Education Association. Um, speak tonight as a union representative, as an educator, and as a parent where I know that there's rightful conversation and consideration being given about the impact of the levy. But as a parent and as a taxpayer, I can tell you that prior to me feeling the impact that was put up there. And I don't, you know, underestimate what that may mean to some folks and for others it might not be felt at all. But as a parent, I can tell you long before I feel that impact, I will see what it does to my kids. I will know that my children are in classrooms
067that are verging 30. I'll know that opportunities were taken away from them that they should have had, that others had. I'll know that I'm paying $100 in paytoplay for them to do sports or clubs or other things. So long before I feel that impact or I calculate it, I know I'll be taking money out of my own pocket more than what you projected to make sure that I'm bridging that gap at that point. And I really think that's the question that's put before all of you right now. And I appreciate how the board did this. This was not easy. It happened very quickly. And I watched all of the three plus hours that everyone sat up there with composure and answered questions. Some tough, you know, some were surprising. And I think that everyone did
068a very good job with that. I think that you heard from the community. And I think tonight you're hearing from the community what they ask you to do and what they view these schools as and what how important these schools are. And if there's a question in anybody's mind about what this investment will yield, those students answered it. They were amazing. All three of them got up there and actually spoke about this. And it makes me sad that as a school district, students are having to learn about tax law because some of them probably understand it better than some boards of education in New Jersey. Not you all. You all know it intimately as do I. But I think it's amazing that our our students came out and engaged in this in such an articulate
069manner and spoke to it. And that is what this investment is. Every single one of you tonight, yes, you're voting about a budget. Yes, you're voting about a levy versus no levy, but what you're really voting about is the future of these schools. Because it's this is not a question of us doing things because we want to or because we can. This is us doing something to survive another year or planning the future. We're doing something to get through a year still bleeding, still hurt, never fixing anything. Or we're starting to build these schools to be what they actually are. We're making sure that they're safe. We're making sure that students have opportunities. We're making sure that the staff is supported in what they're doing. So, I urge you tonight as you consider your vote
070to vote for the future. Think about what these students said and place your vote based off of the value of those students, what they just did, and the students who will come after them that are looking to have the same opportunities. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. [Applause] Good evening. Roy Fryman, state assemblyman, Hillsboro resident. Um, first I just want to do a shout out to Dan Murphy. Um, he is an amazing craftsman. So, I clearly agree with that. Um, the we've had an a lot of discussion as to why you were here. Um, how the formula is antiquated. It has failed you um for years now. Tonight's discussion is not about what brought you here. It's the fact that you were here because you have to make a difficult decision. And I don't
071think unlike it was presented before, you don't have an easy decision tonight. All the decisions in front of you are difficult decisions. Um, and I thank you for the process that you have gone through. As Henry mentioned before, you've taken time to listen and put in hours and were thrown at some really last minute changes from a process standpoint. And still here you are tonight and the board of education has said, "We still don't have an answer for you to to give you more information saying here definitively here you are with some choices." saying that stinks and that's unfair and yet you're managing through it. And as a resident of this town, as somebody as a father that put my kids through your school system, I thank you for this unbelievable task that you're you're
072being faced with. Um there is as a school system, we rely upon you in this town. When you get a cold, the rest of the community sneezes. you drive how this community feels. Um, you come first. You are the investment. Um, the punchline of all this from my standpoint is I am a taxpayer like you all are. Um, I don't want to pay more taxes. You don't want to pay more taxes. But the choices from my perspective are two difficult ones. And supporting our schools to me every single time is an easy one. supporting our children, supporting this investment is an easier one to make and I respect the fact that there are it's incredibly difficult and being able to pay it is these taxes are becoming harder and harder. Mr. Vulp touched upon a
073couple of programs that the state has and I want to just take a moment to give an additional little bit of information about these programs. Some have been around, some are brand new. Um the senior senior freeze has been around for a while. um it's been enhanced and it's been added to. Um a relatively new one that's been around for just a couple years is an anchor program that doesn't require someone to be of the senior age. Um and that's available depending upon income level for renters as well as homeowners and not just homeowner status. And a new one that's that's being rolled out this year is called stay. Um and that is designed for seniors. It's recognizing the fact that we want to keep multigenerational families in a community. We recognize that people are
074on a fixed income. We recognize the fact that it's difficult and so this is one that's very aggressive and it's up to 50% tax cut rebate uh for people um within our community. Um and that's being rolled out this year and if so the state has and has rolled out a the Treasury Department a single application. You don't have to worry about which one to apply for. or you just apply for a single application and whatever is the most amount of money will get you you automatically qualify for. Um I will tell you I filled it out myself. It's not simple. So I don't want to it's not it's it's a state form. It's not simple but it's out there. Um and there's help to help people through and there will be seminars to help
075people figure that out. Um so again I just thank you very much for the decision you have in front of you. I thank you for working through this process and I do support your decision tonight to keep the programs in place. Thank you for [Applause] coming. I will just pause because I don't want to leave anybody out. Last option for public comment before we move to board discussion. Long pause. Seeing none, I will close public comment. All right. So, um, I had, uh, I spoke about this some of the committees. We're going to give each board member kind of a an opportunity to speak if they so choose on their general feelings on this. We'll go around. Um, I would ask in the first round not to go Q&A, just to give kind of your
076thoughts on it, and then once every board member has an opportunity to speak if they so choose, then we can move into some back and forth conversation if we if we choose to do so. So, I will go counterclockwise. I'll start with Miss Nurse. Starting with the quiet one. That's right. I've never heard you speak before. So, um I see a lot of familiar faces out there that came to community engagement um night. So, thank thank you for coming again and and for some of you for sharing your thoughts again. Um one thing that I learned um from a political standpoint uh I don't like politics even though I guess we're considered politicians, but I learned a ve very big lesson and never say never. Um because the last time we had to do this,
077I think I might have even said I would never consider this again. Um and here we are a year later and I know um that someone had mentioned that we were prepared to make these cuts. Um that is the the current tenative budget. We were prepared to make those cuts because it was the only option. Um there was nothing else. You can't go out and hope that money will fall into your luck. we had no money or very little money and that is what we had to do. Um it is difficult you know I don't want to pay another5 or $600 a year. My taxes have gone up steadily. Um but in reflection of what is best you know I first of all took an oath to do what was what I thought was best
078for the kids for the schools. Um and in that trying to be a representative to the public and to the community. Um, and it's hard when there are people that are all different, you know, um, financial statuses and whatnot, but we need to be able to function. And not just function, we need to be able to thrive. Um, I moved here in 2012, I think, because of the school system. Um, I think many people did that over the years. uh whether your children are long gone um because they've graduated and moved on. I think for the most part this is a very family oriented community. Um and I think that's a big reason why many people have come here. Um so I will be fully in support of raising the tax levy. Um I would
079like to see it go to the maximum so we're not here again. Um I will never say never. Um, but I do want to do what I think is best for our students and our uh community to thrive and that is most dependent on our schools thriving. So, I would like to see us go um to the pool one. All right. Thank you, Miss Nurse. Signing Peter. So, I think I've mentioned before I'm not good at speaking off the cuff. So, I did write down my thoughts. Um, so just if you would uh let me indulge for a moment. Um, I moved to Hillsboro almost 17 years ago with a three-year-old and a newborn baby. Um, like so many other residents, my husband and I chose Hillsboro because of the great schools. At the time,
080the word around town was that full day kindergarten would be in place by the time my youngest would enter school. Today, we have three children, two of whom are still in the district, and there continues to be no full day kindergarten. As one of only a handful of districts left in New Jersey without full day kindergarten, I feel we are doing a disservice to the children our of our community at a critical beginning of their education by not providing full day kindergarten. We are also at the point where statewide cuts leave us no choice but to make cuts to our staff if we do not take action. Look, everyone has said it. That is an unbelievably painful decision that should not become the norm year after year. Sadly, if we do not take steps this
081evening, I fear that is exactly what will happen. We do have amazing teachers, but with an unstable economic future, what is to keep these wonderful educators from leaving here in search of a district with more financial stability? Cutting our staff means increases in class sizes that in some cases are already too high. It is unfair to our students to not move forward on an opportunity that would help to ensure some stability. We have heard this said before. I personally don't want my taxes to increase, but I think we have to continue to invest in the future of our children, particularly here in Hillsboro, where people move to for our great public schools. So, my vote tonight is going to reflect my commitment to them and their families. Thank you, M. Greg. I'm going to keep
082my comment pretty short, but just like my other fellow board members, my family and I moved here in 2021 because of the reputation of the Hillsboro schools with the continued cuts made by the state. Uh it is becoming more and more unlikely for us to meet the expectations set by that reputation. I joined the board with the intention of doing what's right for the students. And in order to do that, I will be supporting the budget increase, which incorporates the full tax levy incentive and getting this district back on track to match the reputation it is struggling to maintain. Thank you, Miss Jackson. So, I didn't prepare anything uh for tonight. One of the things um that works for me is listening to the feedback. Um and I've been here since 96 came for school
083district. Um but what I am is a proponent for families, not just students. And as been said before by other members, I think it is wrong to go through this without full public input. There are people out in the community that have not come up here and expressed themselves. Some of whom don't feel comfortable doing it. And just because you vote no doesn't mean that you're not per student, per teacher. That's that is the farthest thing. Uh I think one of the lost teaching moments is that there is a root cause for everything and we are looking at and addressing the problems created by the root cause but nobody is really admitting to why we are here. They're touching on it but we're not talking about it in full. And I think that's a failure
084on the part of every school district. And um I just I have no faith we won't be here next year in the same spot if things don't change. So, and I think for the students not being taxpayers, not realizing that maybe some of their classmates, if their families shell out more money, it it's you're not gaining anything by hurting a family and not giving them a voice and not pointing out the true reason why we end up here year after year. And we are one of the worst treated districts, the worst treated districts in this county with no explanation. And it it's just completely inexcusable at this point. And again, I'm going to repeat it. Just because you vote no doesn't mean you're not anti- student, anti-teer. There's a lot more thought that goes into
085a no than a yes. Understood. Thank you, Mr. Hugh. Thank you to my colleagues who have spoken already as well as to the public. Um I'm a no vote for option one and the main reason is for fiscal responsibility and I ran the numbers and I would like actually this I know this is not a Q&A but um question to my fellow board members as to how much money we are raising with option one and by my calculations in the in two years So, we're referencing the 2023 to 2024 budget of $106 million. We are going up with option one by 36% of our budget. Um, that is a $38 million increase over two years, which is more than the cumulative state aid loss of 26 million that was listed earlier. It feels like this
086option one is treating the Hillsbor Hills Hillsboro taxpayer as a bank in which we can withdraw funds. And all of the speakers who spoke from the audience very eloquent, tugging at the heartstrings, but the decision that I'm making today is a financial one. And people talk about nobody wanting to pay more taxes, but there's a difference between not wanting to pay more taxes and not being able to pay more taxes. The numbers that were presented in the tentative budget, I believe, for the average Hillsboro taxpayer was $72 annual increase. That's for the average of 549,000. um assessed value home. Um I believe in the previous presentation it was something on the order of 300. So between April 7th and today it doubled. So although I was a no back then, I'm even more of a
087no. I mean I just cannot imagine um putting this on the taxpayer without their input. And last year in July when we voted I voted no but when we voted to increase the tax levy we were capped at 9.9%. This year there is no cap. This is a hypothetical well it's not a hypothetical it's an actual number of adequacy minus local share. But every year our adequacy number changes. Every year our local share in changes. So when you said Mr. Vulby about not wanting to be here again, there is no guarantee and in fact when our when our adequacy number changes next year and our local share changes again, my prediction just based on what has happened over the last two years is that we're going to be offered this option again. What's going to
088happen in 2026 for our budget increase? Um, and then finally to to um elaborate on Miss Jackson's point about the taxpayer, if the taxpayers had input into this, for example, if the board of education or the township committee, they both have the ability to move our schoolboard elections from November to April, that would allow the taxpayer to vote on the budget. And if they want to raise the tax levy by this amount, then so be it. The people have spoken. But for the nine of us to impose this upon the town, I do not believe that's right. And um so I'll leave you with that. And I also would like to um know what is the actual tax levy increase if board members could share that. I appreciate it. Thank you. Sandra, do you have
089anything you would like to add? Um, I just wanted to take my time to echo some of the sentiments shared by students today. Um, it is an extremely hard process to cut 24 positions. I think was said in the presentation. I remember in seventh or eighth grade when previous budget cuts had happened, it was heartbreaking to lose so many of my beloved teachers that I had formed connections with. Um, especially the student assistance coordinators, one of which will be cut from the high school. Many students rely on student assistance coordinators to escape unfortunate family situations or mental health issues which are increasing um nowadays because of social media and issues with friends. And I think just choosing to get rid of that and sort of not accepting this option one is extremely demoralizing for the
090student population and those students who rely so much on these student assistance counselors. Um, I also think like one of my um fellow students, Vicki said, if middle school sports get cut, that's a way for students to make friends. That's a way for students to figure out what extracurriculars, what passions they want to pursue. We they won't have the opportunity to do that anymore. And I think that's extremely painful for a student to realize that they can't pursue something that they want to pursue in middle school. Um, and it that's also in addition with orchestra. I know a lot of my friends are very passionate about orchestra and not being able to pursue that again is extremely heartbreaking. So, um yeah, that's just my input. Thank you, Mr. Davis. Thank you. Yeah, these are uh
091this is a difficult conversation and as has been said, uh those of us who may be leaning, no, I'm I'm a no. I'm a no on option one. Uh but it's not because the testimonies uh aren't valid. It's not because the things that will be lost are not painful. As our colleague uh Mrs. Trillo just shared, I'm I'm just reluctant to make impose a tax increase of this magnitude on the entire town uh without the town having had the opportunity to participate. In the old days, that would be a referendum or some kind of process. And so I'm intuitively suspicious of the state making an offer like this of of offering to, you know, impute to us the authority to make an outrageous tax increase without referendum, which is not an authority we typically possess.
092And to do so at such short notice, I I almost feel like there's a gun to our head. Uh you know, the the cliche would be the hounds toothcoated used car salesman. You know, sign now. Which one do you want, red or blue? Uh and there's I just have a hesitancy. I've got a yellow flag that says there's something going on here that's not right. Part of me feels as though uh the state legislature, not necessarily each individual assembly person, but that the state legislature is leature is in a sense saying let them eat cake. Uh if they're complaining about the finance system, if they're complaining about the formula, well, the solution is pay $20 million more in taxes and shut up already. the idea that we're being offered this unusual authority as a unique
093one-time event. Do it now or you lose your it just is not right. And um as painful as it is to go through cuz everyone agrees and I agree entirely that the situation needs to be remedied. I can't vote for remedying the situation in this way tonight. Thank you Mr. Davis. Miss Stats. Well first of all uh I just want to remind we really I guess Loosely speaking, we do have more than just the two options. We can modify option one so that we don't use the full uh amount. Um we can raise enough I think uh uh raise it to an amount of 8.7 million which is more than what we would have cut if we did option two. And um that would be a flat tax rate. So because I think you know
094as we've as you mentioned um we went beyond the 2% cap last year without the voters without the residents voting on it. We also have to look to the future. We don't want we don't want to um you know waste the goodwill of our residents because we're we're going to need to do something in the future hopefully about a new high school and uh we don't want to risk uh losing their goodwill and have them vote against that because that did happen in the past. Um, another thing that I'm concerned about, whatever option we're using, we're eliminating elementary teaching positions and interventionists positions, like I said, which whichever option it is. So, I'm against that right now. Um, they are I'm all for um supporting electives. they are going to be transferred to those positions.
095But the class sizes in the elementary grades are higher than than uh I would say most of the uh courses in the high school their class sizes are significantly smaller than our elementary school class sizes. And uh I taught high school um and I've believed it then and I continue to believe it that smaller class sizes is more important in the elementary grades. That's when the children are building their foundation uh and their approach to learning where that's where you can really um create a joy for learning and that can be irreversible when they're in a big class size and the interventionist that's all part of the tiered system. So for and that that was a selling point to the tiered system and eliminating some of the levels in the um lower grades. So eliminating
096the interventionist positions um can jeopardize that. So um I'd like us to at least consider uh lowering that full amount from the full amount to the uh 8.75 million for option one. And um that way we could have a flat tax rate, Mr. Lee. Okay. Um I'll just make this quick. I'll be voting in favor of any solution um at this point that will keep us whole. U I appreciate um the presentation as far as um how the budgets can be handled. I think it hedges us against future losses. So that's always important. And I'm always um I'm always going to want a solution that will keep our district whole. Whether that means to eventually implement full day kindergarten um keep middle school sports. I mean work really hard for the courtesy busing as well
097as suspending the paytoplay options. All of that is would be lost if we kind of just uh let things go as is. So um being presented with some sort of solution um whether it's flawed or not um it is what is presented to us. So, um, yeah, I'll be voting in favor of whatever iteration of option one we we come up with. All right. Thank you. And I'll just add, uh, I guess my comments in here. Um, this whole thing is a little confusing and I think even um, one of our board members, I won't call people out, had said in a board meeting, look at the formula the state had given us. Is that even the right local fair share or local adequacy number? And um the only analogy I can give is I
098in my professional career I was forced once to take a PMP training project management professional and I remember going in there trying to figure out things and there was a b bunch of project management people in there as the guy's teaching the course people said well that's not right that doesn't make sense I don't think that's the way you should be doing it and the answer the guy kept giving over and over again was memorize the formula pass the test and people kept ignoring him kept complaining day two he comes in he goes listen guys this doesn't make sense it's what the auditing says is the right answer to these formulas and that's how you do what you need to do. So I think the analogy here is there's probably a lot wrong with everything
099that's going on here, but this is the option that they're giving us and it's our only option. So we can either take the option or not. Um whether or not that number is correct, there's no way for us to argue and get a better answer. Um, so that being said, uh, when I joined the board, the the thing that actually triggered me running for the board of education was the year that we lost was it 57 staff in the district. And I said that should never happen again. And I kept complaining about it, complaining about it. And somebody I know said to me, well, instead of complaining about it, why don't you run for the board? I said, that's terrible idea. And um that person kept annoying me into doing it and I finally was
100like, you know what, right, why should I be that guy that just complains about it and sits there on his couch grumpy? So I sit up here grumpy instead. So um with that being said, my goal is to secure the future of the district and I feel like that's my charge. Um as everybody said, do I want to pay more taxes? Absolutely not. They're too much as it is. Houses keep getting reassessed. It's the way of maybe not just of Hillsboro, but the way of the world, especially in New Jersey. So, that being said, I am going to bite the bullet. I will support whatever we can get five votes to agree on um at the top end of that allowance is my thought. Okay. So, every board member has a chance to speak. So,
101if there's additional questions or discussion from the board, I'm very happy to have that discussion. Now, Mr. Davis, As I understand it, um there was some communication earlier this evening from the state that well none of this is actually poured in concrete yet. We're still reviewing the list of items that that you guys submitted. And by the way, just footnote, I want to congratulate Mr. Eert and Mr. Vulpi for having their data in a row that they could respond to this extortion so quickly. But uh so good for you guys. But uh if the state ultimately comes back to us and says, "Yep, okay, your whole list is approved." Does that mean that we are bought in that's it folks, we have to pass that or do we then have an opportunity to do some
102line item shopping as per uh Miss Stat's suggestion? So I mean I can let me let me answer this and then I'll kick it over to you, Mr. President. While this is an unprecedented situation, Mr. Davis, and I can't tell you with 100% certainty about the approval, what I can tell you with certainty is that what you're describing, like tonight is the night. So, if the board votes on the full option, um, and we got the full option approved by the state, that would be our budget. That would be our line item. The strange situation would be like if the if the state knocked off a couple of things then obviously we couldn't include that in but you've authorized to go up to a certain amount. So if you wanted to look at something line
103by line item like tonight is the night that you would have to do that and I think Mr. Marini was going to comment a little bit more on that process. So we're required to have the second public hearing after the first one where we reviewed the uh budget and get approval here. If we don't do that tonight, then we have no option going into the final budget submission, which I believe is by May 12th or May 14th or something like that. May May 14th. Yeah, the last date to submit a budget iss May 14th. May 14th. So here's what would happen. Let's for the sake of argument, we have five votes to in approve the maximum. We have approximately 15 million in capital projects and 5 million in recurring etc. As Mike had mentioned earlier,
104if they come back to us and say, "Your 15 million of capital projects are all denied," then we probably have to have an emergency meeting to say, "Are we going to submit the five million recurring costs, which is, as we know, problematic because they could just come back the next year and cut us and we lose all that recurring cost again." So, the only data point we know of is another district that had put in for 11 point something million and got I think 11,000 declined kind of for this state to show that they actually reviewed it and that's the way of approving it because they knocked something off the list um is what it seems to be. Um so, if we approve it and there's a huge change, we may need to pull another
105together another board meeting um to reassess this. Uh but if there's a a small incremental cut and the administration feels that that is an acceptable cut and the balance is okay, then we can just Yeah. But really all all they're approving is for us to raise taxes. You know, they're not they're not giving us anything. So we don't know if they're going to come back next year and audit our use of those funds and what the penalty would be if we didn't follow them. But effectively, we're getting 50. We're getting a So, I don't know what the language in the appropriations bill is going to be that allows for this. So, until we see that, it's hard to answer that question. Um, but as of this point, they've acknowledged our submission. It was correctly submitted,
106but they haven't done the full assessment of what they're going to give a thumbs up on. But the guidance we have received is to have this meeting approve up to the amount that we're willing to accept and if the state a state comes back and says these don't qualify as thorough and efficient then those get knocked off and then the recommendation of the superintendent could be to schedule an emergency meeting if that in fact affects us and our ability to use those funds long term because if it's they knock off everything but a million and recurring maybe it's not even worth doing it at that point. we can have a discussion and re revert back to the original. But at this point, the assumption is with the one data point we have is that it's
107kind of a, you know, they're going to put their thumb print on it to show that they reviewed it and get back to us with that. You want to add anything to that? No, I just want to Well, yeah, I guess I do. Um, I do just want to reiter Well, there's two points. Some people here had mentioned full day kindergarten and full day kindergarten was not in my proposal here for the use of these funds. But if you look at the non-recurring cost, there was money to build what we need to build for full day kindergarten. And although it's not in this budget, then in 2027, the idea would be to use the funds that we did to build and upgrade the classrooms towards kindergarten staffing. So, those of you who are concerned about
108full day kindergarten, if you're like, "Where is it?" It's it's it's right there. And the the only other thing, too, I I just do want to caution that whatever the decision is, even if it's now, later, or what we hear, we cannot put all of our money in recurring costs because we will just be right back here again next year. And I just want to really caution everybody about that, which is why it was built two-thirds non-recurring, one third recurring. That was that was not an accident. Is it possible to bring up I have a couple different amounts written down and so Jerry do you happen to have what we were originally looking at about like um on a Hillsboro $594,000 house what the tax amount increase would be. Do you have that to pull
109up? Yes. From the from the tenative budget. So from the from the tenative budget, the rate would have been 1.3353 and the amount of taxes on on that house for school purposes would have been $7,933. Okay. But what would the increase? Did we talk about like an increase? That's an annual increase. Like I have written down here $427. I have something that I'm looking at that said $715. And then I look over a couple columns and it says $364. Is it possible to go back to one of those slides? Well, yeah, that's what Yeah. Do we have a slide, Mike, that that says for for from the tenative budget or from this one. I can show you what the side by side was. I think when we started I don't think it was in tonight's
110presentation. I think we had an earlier either presentation or it was our for our use of committee meeting. Oh, maybe it wasn't a brass pack. Bring that up necessarily. Yeah. The one that I'm looking at. So So the two This is the This is the original. This is the tentative. This is the tenative and this is with this the tenative the average home 79 22 that increased to 7933. So I think there was some changes in the children in Hillsboro or something like that registration. Yes. Hillsboro and Milstone. So that was the original rate was 7922, but after being updated it was 7933. So that went up $10. Um the option one with full levy rate wasn't in the original one because we didn't have that at that point in time. I think what people
111were talking about was when you go all the way across, right, they gave an estimated home of I think the average was $594,89. Then it added the t that estimated tax rate for 2025, the estimated 2025 annual tax for schools. The one that I'm looking at says like $8,582. Then the estimated 2025 monthly tax, $715. Is that from the community engagement night, Cindy? I have I do not remember. I'm sorry. I just don't know which column I should be looking at because then when like later it talks about 2025 then it talks about 2024 and the increase annual was maybe the $364 I was thinking about from last year's increase. Is that what it might that was the increase from last year's average house average house. Okay. So it was from we voted last year
112was last year when we came up the levy 9% 9% that was last year. Yes. So that increase that $364 might have been from last year's increase. I'm going to wait till I'm going to wait till M Do you have that Mr. Eard or I I don't think we're looking at the same charge. The one I'm looking at is the one that was in the binder that was provided to committee at committee level. Yeah, I just I just want to say tax. I didn't ask for that's what you were asking about, right? Yes. Because earlier it's either at the April 7th or April 10th meetings, I believe the increase was on the order of 300 to 400, like say 350, and now we're doubling it. So, I don't know where I had that number from,
113but that was I'm pretty sure that that was You're definitely going up much higher. There's no doubt because of the tenative it was before the No, because the 10 Wait a minute. The tenative was before the 20 million. Yes. Right. Okay. But I thought on April 7th there was some there was some comparison and April 10th there was some comparison because because I mean I definitely had that number in my head thinking oh it's 350 but now I'm seeing it 712. Was there a chart remember when we were looking at the chart and I know um Mr. Eert wasn't there at the community meeting, but like the most recent one, the governance, and you were like, I think this is the chart you put it in, but you weren't 100% sure. We were going to
114ask Mr. Dreer, and I think I forgot to ask Mr. Der. That the calculation. I mean, this is the calculation up on my screen is the one that's for the full um option. So, on the average Hillsboro house, which is still assumed to be $594,000. Yes. Okay. And that is the the net the most accurate number is annual $715 increase. Uh the one I'm looking at is 720. So at the at the tenative again for the average house. So let's just make it clear. It's for the average house and the average tax increase. There might not be anybody who actually pays this. Correct. At the tenative budget it was the 365 or whatever you're referencing. And then Jerry, you're saying with the addition of the 20 million, it's 7 how much extra a year? $7
115$720. Yeah. So from about 364 365 to 720. Okay. From the previous was the increase last year. No, that would have been the increase for the tenative budget. Oh, could I Are you saying that the if we went to full amount that's based that's what increase is is based is compared to the tenative budget for this year or compared to last year. Hang on. Let's let Jerry clarify that maybe the $720 increase would be for this year for for house assessed at 594,089. Keeping in mind that that house last year was not going to be assessed at 59409. So somebody that was at 59409 and happened to have a flat assessment which again not likely there the increase there would be $740 for the year. So with the with the option one full amount their
116tax rate would increase $700 some dollars compared to last year everything else being equal. Correct. Paul, Mr. Marini. Yes. Um, so I have a question for and I hope it's a I don't mean it to be rude and it's gonna it's going to probably come out rude. Um, how much money are we raising for the tax levy in this budget right there? So, it's $22.9 million. It's 21 point with a $1 million onetime uh match from the state. So, I would challenge that and say that that's actually you're only saying the difference between option one with the full tax levy incentive and option two's tentative budget. But the tentative budget relative to last year's budget went up by $4.7 million. So the actual increase is 26.6 million. It's not 22.9. This is relative to the
117tentative budget. Well, it says there option one versus option two. Correct. So I asked the question as to how much the local tax levy would be increased this year. That's not the correct number. So for the in with the full tax levy incentive piece for option one. When you include the 2% increase from last year's levy and the bank cap of 2.3 million, you're correct. It's 26.6 million would be the total tax levby increase for the year. So I think that this chart is misleading because I asked several board members before the meeting and they didn't know what they were actually. So the purpose of this slide was to show the difference between tenative and and the option one. It was not comparing it to last year to see what the total increase was. But
118then people don't know what they're actually voting on. So the I mean it and it doesn't make a difference from what I'm hearing that it sounds like many board members are are okay with any amount. And that's my problem. Like that's my biggest concern is that there the fiscal responsibility. It's like I don't really care how much the m the number is. I'm going to say yes because I don't want to cut. I am going to jump in and strongly disagree with that comment. It's it is offensive. You're right. It was offensive. Um I do care about how much we're spending on it. I am reading this that our budget for this year was 149,795,000 $656. That is what the budget tentative budget was. Correct. The the 153 the general fund. Yes. General fund. Yes.
119Okay. And with what we are doing, we are asking to go up the 20. We are asking the community to increase by 21,931,626 off of the tentative budget as compared to the tenative budget. Correct. Okay. I never assumed we were comparing this off of last year's budget. I I had the correct information and the knowledge of what I was looking at. So that may have been your misunderstanding, but so so then but the statement that you're asking the community to raise by 21.9 million is not correct because we're not asking the community anything. We're telling them we're raising your taxes. So we're asking their perspective on this because it's different from the tentative budget that was approved. So we're not taking into account I mean we we're not we're not asking them to approve it.
120We are asking for their feedback as the board's charge is to approve a budget within the criteria that was discussed. And the people who are against this tax increase are afraid to speak up. They're either afraid or they think it won't make a difference. And so there are some board members who spoke up against this because that is our perspective. And I basically my my head just can't wrap this and just can't wrap my head around this. I mean, so then the question is, do we know how much we have raised taxes since 2019, right? I mean, I I just calculated the last two years and I told you and Mr. Eard can correct me, $38 million we have raised the tax local tax levy, which equals because back two years ago, our tax levy
121was about $und00 million. was $106 million. So you can basically assume hundred million. $38 million is about a 30 it's a little bit less 36% increase. That's a huge increase in two years. I don't know anybody's budget family budget that has the same capacity. And so for I understand that that board members have already spoken and and will vote the way they will vote. I understand that. I think that just I I just need to express that that I cannot understand how we are imposing without the community's vote. Not their their voice because yes many people came and spoke but like I said there are many people who have basically given up and said and in fact myself this weekend I was thinking about it do I actually say something or not? Um because I
122kind of calculated that it was going to be five at least five minimum five voting for option one. So I was like all right maybe I have to get another job. I mean it's kind of like this town is not way the my personal lifestyle. I I can't afford to live here with this this increase yearoveryear. And so I think I represent some portion of Hillsboro with this. Um, but it doesn't matter is basically what I'm hearing. So, I think all board members all represent some portion of Hillsboro. That's why they're elected representatives here. I think Jean's making an interesting point though by, you know, because if we just focus on these incremental changes, it's like, well, that's pretty bad. But, you know, Jean's looking at the last two, three years and say, holy mackerel,
123wait a minute. you know, we we've done more than $30 million. Who was the old politician who said a billion here, a billion there? After a while, you're talking real money. And uh you know, cumulatively, this is been quite burdensome. Yeah, I'm not going to challenge that point. Yeah, I mean it is, but so I know we cumulatively agree the state doesn't know what they're doing with this, but from that from their perspective, we have been underpaying our local fair share. Whether that's right or wrong, I think the board here would argue that that's not a correct statement, but in the situation we're in, we've been underpaying for years, but I I think that goes back to fact that goes back to the fact that the S2 formula has no rhyme or reason. So, and
124there have been people that have said that the the numbers being used are old data. Y and we know our housing prices go up far more than our incomes. So, and I mean I agree with Mr. Hila. I I I don't fundamentally disagree personally. Um but these are the rules we're given and how we can operate and what we're allowed to do. And it, you know, it's like we're between it's the least of bad two bad options. And I think everybody is in the situation where what's the least like as you pointed out you vote no it doesn't mean you hate students and teachers you're prioritizing fiscal responsibility in the district and that's okay. Then other people are prioritizing you know funding increasing funding over fiscal responsibility because our charge as they see it is
125to support the district and ensure it doesn't crash and burn and they see that as a real legitimate option. So I I don't think any board member here is is disillusioned on how wrong the state is and what they've done up to this point, but it's, you know, we're elected to make really difficult decision. I think in most board events over time, you don't really make these difficult decisions, but we're in a pickle at this point in time where it's which poison pill do you take? One might kill you, one might kill you, just might take longer. Mr. Nurse, I guess I do have to say and I'm a little surprised about the turn that it has taken because I feel like I'm an outspoken person and I know that not everybody is like that.
126So there is discomfort in coming to a board meeting or anything like that. But I feel that I can say that I have been pretty respectful when I'm on an opposite side. Right? So I I clarified that I, you know, with that one statement that I did know what I was talking about and I I did understand that. But I think just as I appreciate and highly respect if you're voting, if anybody is voting no, I appreciate the fact and respect the fact that you're doing what you think is best for the community and I do not see anything wrong or would never criticize a no vote. Um, I understand your points. I like having this conversation. when I was off with my account because I thought we were lower than we actually were. No,
127I don't because I am paying more than double and I think I'm coming into this meeting knowing and I'm like sitting here going, "Oh crap." to myself. But I would never put down somebody who is voting opposite than I am. So to say comments like we're not con being considered or I'm not being consider I am taking it a little personally and I'm sorry if it's too personal but I think we just need to this is a hard decision. Our community is in a awful place because of no one's fault that is here or in within this community. It is the state has misappropriated funds for years. You're I agree with you um Elaine. I this is the state refuses to rectify this and we are left with nothing but bad choice upon bad choice.
128Um I am a little shell shocked about like how much actual my tax rates are going up but I am going to still say that I think it is important that we do it. I I would much rather take it to a referendum. I think that would be great. The state did not afford us that option. it put this all on our shoulders that we can make or break what happens in our budget because once again they don't want to take any account account they don't want to take any accountability there's no question here but I I just think that the nine of us whatever the decision is need to stay respectful to each other um and to like the differing opinions and I myself have been on a minority sometimes And again, I'm a
129different person than a lot of people, but I will come and I will speak up for what my beliefs are. But our community, if they don't feel comfortable coming to a podium, they have every right to send an email to the board, to send an email to Mike. That should all be shared with us as part of it. So, I can only go off of what the community has come to represent. I think at community engagement it was more about 5050. Um here it's tending to one side. I value everybody's thought but I I just feel like there needs to be [Music] some we just need to stay respectful. Just because my vote might be different than yours, it does not mean I disrespect what your thought what you're thinking. it it's hard for everybody
130and I understand everybody's point of view. I think um and and I'm I'm sorry you feel that way and it was I don't think anything was meant to directed to you but I can tell you since I started running I have seen behaviors that have suppressed opposing positions. So this this goes back even further. But what I also think is that a lot of people out there, I will tell you today someone thanked me for voting no. Last year I was thanked for voting no. There are people out there that have completely shut down and given up to coming here and voicing their opinion because they know it does no good. And to just be mindful, there was one of the speakers talked about the tax increase as a small increase. It's not a small
131increase. It is not. And I think what happens is that that gets the ball rolling. Okay? Any increase is is a burden. When you talk about $720 on the average home of 594, which I have not seen a house priced at 594, okay, I don't know where that house is. I have seen nothing but higher than that. And and again, people's incomes are not indicative of the value of the house they own because everything is over inflated. So, I mean, it's just it's one big mess and people are not coming here to speak because they think they are powerless. Yeah, I think most people are probably looking at an increase of $100 a month or more. That is my gut feeling, maybe a couple hundred bucks. And and I think to add to that, um
132I think the township, not to not to go out on a tangent, but the township came out, they did their presentation and I thought what I read was a $44 increase on the average home. And again, social media, everyone blew up and I'm thinking, gee, I would rather pay $44 and a tax increase than 720. So this it's I I I don't know a big difference. Well, I I thought the $44 I mean when you talk about the township the it it's a very much smaller percentage but it's like it's just having a snowball effect and people are losing perspective. So you know and again unless the root cause of this problem changes we're always going to be here. You're absolutely right. Okay. So, the difficult next step is we do need to take a
133motion to either amend or remove um options on the agenda. We obviously can't vote on both budgets. So, um, if somebody wants the motion and second, we can then vote on either amending one or removing one of the options. If we vote to amend one, what does that mean? Does that mean we'll then So, this is um, uh, Miss Stat's suggestion to only go up 8 million, whatever it is. And at that point, if that were to pass, then we'd have to go through the process of identifying what we would remove from the budget line by line to figure out what makes that drop work to that roundabout number. Um, the other option is to remove option one and say we're going to go with the original budget. The other option is to remove option
134two and go with option one. So, we would need a motion to remove one and or amend option one so they're not alone. Um, unless anybody has any other questions or comments, I'd like to make a motion to amend option one. That would specify an amount now. You would. Okay. Based on what I was told, I'd like to uh amend uh going up to an amount of $8.75 million added to the tax levy uh because I was informed that that would uh result in a flat tax rate. Is there a second for that? So before we talk about um seconding, is there a bottom line dollar amount that that increases the taxes? It could be $1. It could be $10. It could be4 million. It could be 21 million. So, we don't know the tax
135implication. Oh, um, that's what I'm sorry. That's what I meant. What the actual numbers would be? We're we're not going to be able to figure that out at the DAS, unfortunately. May I ask a clarifying question, Miss Stats? Sure. The 8.75 million is that off of the tentative budget or is that it was my understanding it was 8.75 million added to the tenative budget and that would result in a flat a 0%. It doesn't mean your taxes won't go up because of your tax if your rate of your house goes up but it would be a flat tax. Then there would be whatever rounds of debates as to what that 8.75 million meant. Um probably repairs, is it teacher positions? Is it supplies? Yes, we'd have to go through that. Correct. And it'd have to
136be done tonight. Yes. And I know that would be ownorous, but uh I think it'd be worth it considering all the sides, you know, the the the uh the the the what what our district needs as well as um the impact for to our residents. uh for some people uh whether it affects us personally I we're aware we can think we can doesn't take hard to imagine that there are some people they've already cut back as much as possible with their own budgets and whatever we can do to alleviate that but still help our school district at least um you know raise it up to and beyond what was going to be cut. Okay. I have not heard a second. So, we need to have a second or another um amendment request. I have another
137question. I'm sorry. And Mike, I'm sorry to put you on the spot because but and if you can't answer right now, that's fine. I think I heard correctly, and please tell me if I'm wrong, that adjusting it would possibly make it a harder process for years to come. I just Is that correct? Am I correctly? Yeah. What what I had spoken about previously is my advice to the board is in all due respect to Miss Stats is to either take option one or option two. I think there's a lot of variables with um option one if you reduce it because what's going to be approved as recurring versus non-recurring. And what I would hate to have this board do is if we put a lot into recurring costs, which it sounds like you wouldn't want
138to do, but we still have to see what the state is going to approve. I don't want to be back here again again next year. And and if I can just make a funny sports parallel to maybe have a little bit of of levity, I'm I'm a fan of the New York Jets. And there was just the recent draft and the Jets never draft at 32 because they never win the Super Bowl, but they're never really bad enough to get the number one overall pick to pick that franchise player and make the difference. They usually win five, six, seven games and get the seventh to 10 pick. And then the next year they win five, six, seventh games and get the seventh to 10 pick. And then the next year they win four, five, six
139games and get the seventh to 10 pick. And and I don't want I don't want Hillsboro to be like the New York Jets just constantly from here. I I didn't I wasn't trying to be that funny, but I don't want us to be in that constant mode. I want us to either, you know, break it down and and and rebuild or or move in the right direction. And I understand Miss Stat's intent. I think it's noble. I think it's very difficult the execution of assuring that that's going to have any long-term success. Thank you. But just to be clear, whatever the board decides, I will do. So if if there's not a second, then we need a motion to either I second. You second that. Okay. Should we at this point take a vote to
140see if that motion would go and then work the details or do we have to work through the details first before we ask attorney here? I think it's difficult to vote on that if you don't know what the details are. I mean, you can go ahead and vote on the amendment at 8.75 million, but you're going to then have to deal with what that uh what what that will represent by way of proposed expenses to be approved by the commissioner. So, can we approve that and then work through the details? I think it may make sense to have that vote so we don't waste time if that's not going to pass. So, there's a motion in a second. So, at this point, you would call for discussion. Is there any discussion before we move to
141vote on whether to So, if if the U amend the move to amend is voted no, then we're just back to square one of we are back to square one of making a second decision. So we can keep making motions until we come to an answer. Yes. So but that would be without the final detail as to how well if we approve it then we would need to work through what the final detail is here and come to agreement for that to be submitted. But instead of us spending potentially an hour going through the details and then not passing. I think it may be more a better use of our time to first go through that vote to see if we have the votes to support that amount and then go through the details after
142that. There are details attached to the board agenda on on the so we would bring those up once we had the support for that motion and walk through what the where the spend would be. Sorry. Absolutely. Uh I guess at this point let's take role. So a yes would be to change option one to eight 8.75 million. 8.75 million. A no vote returns us back. Can I just say one one more thing? Sure. I some of that I think is possible to have uh non-recurring costs in it. Sure. Now, um would that replace option one as it stands now and then determine take a vote between option one and option two? If this vote passes, then this vote would be to revise option one to 8.75 million. That that would conclude the board's decision on
143this and you would then begin to discuss the 8.75 million with regard to the expenses or the expenditures that you seek to have approved by the commissioner. But I'm sorry then the vote would be between option one and then then we have to take a motion to remove one of the options. So we actually only vote on the one option. Mr. Fogerty, can you correct me if I'm wrong? Once we have five yes votes on any budget option, that's the budget. That is correct. I don't think that you would need a another vote to remove the other option. So again, the the the motion that's on the ta the motion that is on the table now uh would be option one revised downward from $21 million, whatever that was, down to 8.75 million. If it
144passes with five votes, then we will begin the process of determining what expenses will support the $ 8.75 million application to the commissioner. Okay. And to to be clear, just to follow up, Mr. Fogerty, then that's it. That's it. That's it. Okay. So, as we take role, a yes vote is for the 8.75 million. If you want no budget increase or if you want the full option one like the original budget or option one in its whole, you would vote no. Uh yes would give us that budget. But but again, I'm sorry, just to be clear, if if the option one vote is yes to go down to the proposed amount, we're done. I'll just figure out the details. Okay? and we won't know what the bottom line increase is regardless of the tax rate
1458.75 million but the impact on the annual tax bill. Yeah, we're not going to have that here. Okay. So, it's an unknown. Correct. That was the estimated 0% increase, but we don't have the calculations to do that with us right now. Thank you. Can we assume if eight or close to 9 million is a little bit less than 21 or 22 million would it be a little less than 50% decrease probably uh likely like so if it wasn't 720 it might be like 300 325 like just the big part the other thing I think just to keep in mind if we build a budget we put those items in. Um those are also at the discretion of the state. So we can't just replace them with something else. So if they say that 8 million
146is not qualified, we would get zero. Um or they could say all of it's good and then I was just trying to get a roundabout ballpark that help. Okay. The stats just as a possibility. What what if some people are undecided about whatever it is, whatever the amount is, because they want to know what those items will be before they commit to approving a budget. I think we're in a little bit of trouble if that's the case. Um, that's why I tried to put together some type of a hierarchy in advance to share. Um, there's no easy way to to do that. Um, and I'm not trying to be, you know, that I just think it's very difficult. But and also, I'm sorry, Mr. Nurse. I'm Are you saying that it's possible that with this
1478.75 million uh proposal that the taxes will go up $300? Yeah. So the the tax the tax rate at the 8.75 million will stay flat if your house if your house is so if it's tax if a tax rate is flat and your house is not reassessed then your taxes should remain the same. Yeah. Well and that that that that applies no matter what option we pick. You know there's that unknown variable as far as you know the tax the correct that property being res and we're talking conceptually here. That's why it's very difficult to figure out tax rates at the at the day quickly, but theoretically that's correct. So I just I know this is so there there's a motion in a second. So you guys are voting on a budget for 8.75 million.
148If that gets five votes, that's your budget and we'll work it out. If it goes down, then you're still between options one and two. Just wanted to make that clear. It's not a budget of 8.75 million. Yes, it's not a budget of 8.75 million. It's a It's the increase of 8.75 million. Thank you, Mr. Ver. Yes. Okay. So, voting but voting for yes, we're done. If you vote no, you're still deciding between one and two. We'll take roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, no. Miss Craig, no. Miss Lenning beater? No. Mr. Lee? No. Miss Nurse? I I think we need to do all or nothing. So, no. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Hill, no. And Mr. Mini? No. Motion fails. All right. So, if folks would like to take an additional motion. Okay. I move to
149raise the budget, the full amount that we could go to. So 21,936, $626, I think. I'm impressed. Thank you. That's awesome. And then we would get the option one. Option one. Yes. So we would need a second for that. No, because we vote for one, it it covers it. So do we have a second? Second. Second. Okay. Any discussion before we do a vote on that? the stats as I stated before I am still very concerned that I mean in 2019 we it's been said you tonight that uh we lost a lot of uh positions staffing positions many of which were teachers many of them were elementary school teachers raising class sizes and uh one of the solutions to that was to raise the cap didn't change the fact that the class sizes uh were
150raised in the elementary schools um since Then I some staffing positions have been restored but not elementary teaching positions and uh some of us were motivated by that to run for the school board or to fight for restoration of those positions but not only have we not restored elementary school teacher positions. Now we're talking about eliminating four more that I have a problem with. um and they're going to be transferred over as well as a couple I think a couple of uh interventionist positions will be transferred over to elective teachers. Now, I certainly support elective courses, but in looking at the numbers, a lot of those class sizes are pretty small. Um so maybe not that extreme number. If we're having we're going to have six additional elective teaching positions, that's I was a math
151teacher doing the math. That's 30 additional sections. Um especially when you already have uh small class sizes. A lot of them are pretty small. Um especially compared to and a lot of the the courses in the the classes in the high school are considerably smaller than the elementary class sizes. So as I said before, I think it's important that those class sizes can be as small as possible. They'll never be as small as they should be, but as small as possible for the sake of the learning of our students at their young vulnerable ages. Thank you. I a clarifying question. You put in for a certain amount of teachers within that. Did you am I correct in hearing that that is still you can get the approval for that amount of teachers but you at
152your discretion with your administration can look and see where the best positions to yeah we'll certainly look and see can I guarant I don't know what kind of accounting the state is going to have once this is done like did you put that art teacher in there because Miss Stats I do want to be sensitive to this uh very much so because I hear your point. What I'm hoping, and I know hope is is not a strategy, like if I see a need like you are pointing out and we're exploding in an elementary school that I don't have to then hire another teacher out of our surplus because we got all of these teachers back and then I could simply reallocate. The main issue with lowering class sizes across the elementaryaries is we have uh
153we have one school that's at capacity that if I wanted to put another teacher in there, I I couldn't. So the question is, do we give some schools lower class sizes and and others? And that becomes an issue of are we giving all the people the same education. But to to both of your points as superintendent, particularly as a former elementary principal, if I see school sizes that are class sizes that are out of control, I'm going to ask the state, yeah, I know I put this in for this position, but we we need to lower our class sizes. Uh that's my word. I can't guarantee that that's something the state would approve, but that's certainly something that administration and I would be looking at. Well, because I know Jane, I had the same conversation,
154especially with the um MTSS program and and seeing that need and what's happening in other districts. But I think hopefully and even if it can't be rectified because the state says no this year in the next year you find that we put too many electives and we really should have brought back you will have the flexibility to do what needs to be done. I can't imagine. Who knows? I want to say I can't. I was going to say I can't imagine that the state isn't if we're bringing back staff is going to say, "Well, you said it's a staff person for this like we're spending an instructional line for a staff member. We'll make the best use of it possible." I tried to be as specific as possible to give you options and and senses.
155If we need to relook at some of those, I think that's fine. What I don't think, which I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do, is say like, "Okay, I know I said 10 staff in there, but I'm getting rid of those and I'm buying two new buses." like that that is is something that's out there. So, I will keep my eye on that. Anybody have a second? So, we have a second. If there's no other questions, we'll move to a roll on this. All right, Mr. Aker. Mr. Davis, no. Miss Jackson, no. Miss Craig, yes. Miss Lanny Beater, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Nurse, yes. Miss Stats, no. Mr. Heel, no. And Mr. Marine, yes. Motion passes. So, I I can skip option 64. It doesn't need to be removed, Steve. Yes. I'd
156ask for the board's consideration of the following in the other areas of the budget. Starting with item 6.5. Motion to approve the health benefits waiver. Approving capital reserve withdrawal for 2526. Approving the maintenance budget withdrawal for 2526. Approving professional services for 2526. Approving the resolution for travel reimbursement expenses for 2526. and approving a corrective action plan for semi. Can I get a motion to second? Second. Any discussion on the items in the action agenda? Seeing none, we'll move to roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. With the exception of 6.5 is a no. Miss Craig, yes. Miss Lanning beater, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Nurse, yes. Miss Dut, yes. Mr. Hill, yes. And Mr. Marin, yes. Motion passes. All right. So, seven committee reports. Um, we will start with HR. Okay. Um, the HR committee
157met on April 23rd, which was just uh last week um at 4:00. We started with a conversation and review of the comprehensive equity plan which ensures that our district is abiding by all mandates and laws through our practices our policies. We discussed a job descript description for um new unaffiliated job. Um we uh also discuss how to recognize staff and student achievements um as we come to the end of the year and we did have some conversation on unaffiliated contracts and unaffiliated staff increases and we finished our meeting with the discussion of the 2526 budget including the possible tax levy increase. All right, thank you very much. Uh we'll move on to operations. Mr. Davis, operations committee met on Friday, April 25th. Uh a good amount of time was spent discussing uh renewing services of
158Sedesco, the food services company. Uh and uh really most of the time was spent discussing the budget options. Um and uh a lot of time was spent on that. Uh there was a policy discussion about participating in the class action lawsuit and so on. Uh but that was those were the relative items relevant items. All right. Thank you very much. And move on to educ education. M Jackson. So, we met on April 8th and uh we discussed um the uh spectator code of conduct, the first reading, the tax levy incentive, uh international field trips with the uh takeaway for additional information, and student academic and extracurricular achievements for the May board meeting. And um just a fewformational items came up. All right, thank you very much. and I will cover uh the governance committee. Uh
159we met on Wednesday, April 23rd. Uh we did discuss like all other committees the tax levy incentive and the options. Um and the one other item that we spent a little bit of time on was um available land space and usage options for different um potential use case scenarios. And that's it. Board President's Report. Yes. Next is Board President's Report. I'm not sure I want to talk anymore, but um I want to thank the board for respectful conversation. Obviously, those voting no don't always get everything they're looking for. Um that's why we have nine of us here. So, I just want to express my appreciation to the board for a good, fruitful conversation. And I will stop there. So super for superintendent report I just want to make it clear the board's action is is
160taken I want to make it very clear this is still pending two things um number one we have to hear back from the state that everything that you're submitting now has been approved number two the governor's appropriation has to be voted on and then enacted um and Mr. record, you can correct me that the governor's um appropriation bill can go all the way to like June 30th or beyond. It hasn't rarely, but it's gone beyond. So, we're still in unprecedented territory. So, I just wanted to make it clear that this is not you guys are have done your work, but as far as this translating into something real, it's not done yet and I will keep you posted. Um the other thing, can I completely switch away from the budget? Um, one of the things
161that this board really worked on hard uh for a year and a half was our strategic plan. And you've heard from some board members here uh at different times that hey, maybe we're not always reaching all members of the community. Now, we've tried some creative things in order to do that. We've had community engagement nights where people have come out. You certainly can send us emails, things along those lines. But today opens our scope survey which um is live on our website. It's also been posted on Facebook and it's live in the board um board agenda right here. It's a survey that would take anybody 15 minutes. We encourage staff, students, parents, and community members with no par no students in the school to please fill out the scope survey. This is about not only
162how we communicate and how well we're doing, but how do you like to receive communication? So, if you're a person hearing this who doesn't feel that you're hearing from the school district all the time in the way that you like to be communicated with, please over the next two weeks take 15 minutes uh to fill out this survey so that we can be have an action plan moving forward about the best way to communicate with you because that was a priority of this board uh during our strategic planning process. And uh Mr. President, that concludes my superintendent report. All right. Thank you very much. All right. We'll move on to the approval of minutes. Uh 10.1 motion to approve of public meeting minutes 4725. Motion to approve executive session minutes uh 4725 and motion to
163approve public meeting minutes for 10:25 community engagement night. Can I get a motion in a second? So moved. Second. All in favor? Thank you. We'll move on to the education. Thank you, Mr. President. In the area of education, I'd ask for the board's consideration to approve the following motions. Affirming the HIB determinations for the attached cases, field trip destinations, revised extended day wraparound instructional services for immigrant students. Uh, approve extended wraparound instructional services for ESL students, approve the affiliation agreement with Satan Hall University, and approve the continued long-term suspensions of students whose names remain on file in the office of the superintendent. Uh, can I have a motion and second? Second. Any discussion on these items? Seeing none, we'll move to roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. Miss Craig, yes. Miss Lenning Beer, yes.
164Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Nurse, yes. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Hugh, yes. And Mr. Mar, yes. Motion passes. In the area of human resources, I'd ask for the board's consideration to approve the following motions. Retirements and resignations, appointments for 2425, leaves of absence, school musical staff, extra coverage, six period coverage, student teacher, mentor for 2526, summer athletic camp coaches, the submission of the of the comprehensive equity plan as Miss Ners had stated, and rescending an employment contract. Can I get a motion in the second? So moved. Second. Any discussion by the board? Seeing none, we'll move to roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. Miss Craig, yes. Miss Landing Beater, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Nurse, yes. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Heo, yes. And Mr. Marine, yes. Motion passes. In the area of operations, I'd ask
165for the board's consideration approve the following motions. approving monthly bills, the renewal agreement with Sedexo for the 2526 school year, the submission of the new ADA ramps at Hillsboro Elementary School by LAN Associates to the State of New Jersey Department of Education, joining New Jersey School District so social media litigation, approving a settlement agreement, approving out of district placements, and approving a competitive contracting process. Uh, can I get a motion to second? So moved. Second. Any discussion by the [Music] board? Seeing none, we'll move to roll. Mr. Davis, yes. Miss Jackson, yes. Miss Craig, yes. Miss Lenny Peter, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Miss Nurse, yes. Miss Stats, yes. Mr. Heo, yes. And Mr. Ring, yes. Motion passes. Thank you. In the area of policies and regulations, I'd ask for the board's consideration of the following
166motions. Approving policy 9163 as reviewed by the education committee for first reading and approving policy 8500 as reviewed by operations committee for first reading. Get a motion and a second. So move second. Any discussion by the board? Seeing none. Mr. Davis. Yes. Miss Jackson. Yes. Miss Craig. Yes. Miss Lanning Beater. Yes. Mr. Lee. Yes. Miss Nurse. Yes. Miss Stats. Yes. Mr. Hugh, yes. And Mr. Murray, yes. Motion passes. All right. We'll now move on to the final uh public comment session. We very much welcome in from the public. During board meetings, there'll be two 30-minute periods at the time the meeting that we open public comment. Members are invited to comment, which they may do if they're attending in person. During the second public comment period, members of the public may comment on any school
167or school district issue that a member of the public feels may be of concern to the residents of the school district. As for B 0161 0167, before you state your com, you ask to provide your name and address. There's a three-minute limit on public comment. Please understand that our public forms are not structured as question answer sessions rather as offered as opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. In instances where the board believes there's a misunderstanding or inaccuracy, the board president or superintendent will address the comment. There may be times when the member of the public makes a comment or ask question about personnel hiring decisions. Kindly note that the open public meetings act and the privacy rights of public employees encompass their do not permit the board to discuss personal issues in public
168session. Uh Thomas upic. So I want to thank you all for having a fruitful as what has been said a fruitful conversation. I am disappointed um truthfully um and I hope in the future um and I understand that we all you know we don't like the way we find ourselves in this position but I uh money doesn't grow on trees. I think we all know that and that you doesn't grow on trees. You can't pull it out of the ground. And at some point as a young as a young 30some, okay, uh there is an exodus of friends of mine who are saying I'm done with this state all around. They can't afford to live here. I after a period of time with where I am currently employed, I have desired to maybe move on,
169move farther south, sunnier shores, palm trees, the state of Florida. But I it's very difficult for people, not even just seniors, because I know that was talked about a lot. I know relatives of mine who would fall in that category, but there's plenty of young people who can't afford to live in this state. And I think moving forward, we genuinely need and as someone who went through the school system, okay, I got a great education here. I am very blessed. I had wonderful teachers, but also there's a there's a a give and take. And as a young person who says, I can't afford to live here or it's very challenging to live here. This the idea of continuously raising taxes and people saying that it's nothing. It is not nothing. $720 is not nothing. And
170so I just hope that in the future we keep that in mind that not only for our seniors who have trouble affording, but for young people like myself who want it maybe to stay here, maybe want to see what else is out there, but this continuation of constantly raising taxes cannot be. It just can't. And and so I just hope in the future we keep that in mind and that we look forward to the future and see what comes of it. And I hope and pray to God we're not in the same position. But as has been said, I don't have much confidence in that either. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. Megan Murphy, Jamestown Common. I'll be very quick. It's very late. I know Mr. Hider wants to go home. I want to
171thank you all for sharing your opinions, whether they are contrary to mine or not. Um, I do appreciate the vote tonight. I know that was not easy for anybody. Um, and please share with us the community how we can help to fight the state on these funding things. give us information on who we have to contact, where we have to bark, because how Hillsboro is being funded is not acceptable. And as much information as we can have as a community how to help fight, please share with us. Thank you so much. Have a good evening. Thank you very much. Hi, Alicia Gabriel live in Hillsboro. Um, just also wanted to echo, I know that was very difficult. Um, thank you for all of your opinions. Uh, I just wanted to touch base on two other
172things. Uh, the survey as you go through it, it just in case it's very small in one of the last pages if you're a parent. It does say, you know, try to do it for your eldest child and then you could do it again if you have other children. Um, just pointing that out in case uh you want to set aside a little more time. And then two, I just wanted to respond to the gentleman who uh asked about the pilot at the community event. I haven't watched the whole last township meeting, but it looks like it the pilot amount might be $225,000. Um, which makes up maybe 1% of how much money they're taking in. You can find that at uh minute marker or 1 hour and 5 minutes out of the 1 hour
173and 55 minute thing you can find online. Thanks. Thank you for your comment. All right. Um, if there are no others, we will close public comment and we will open up to any board members who wish to make any additional comments. Before we close the stats, I'll try to make this quick. Um, I attended the equity expo on April 11th, the New Jersey School Board Association conference and um, it addressed a variety of things. a lot of it focused on students with disabilities um to promote self- advocacy on their part and alternative education programs and uh a sense of belonging for all students and um they encouraged that districts come up with a definition of equity. Um the definition that they offered was um everyone receives what they need in the way that they need
174to receive it and that equity is not equivalent to affirmative action. Um and also uh last Wednesday I attended the art gala open the district art gala opened at the municipal building and as usual amazing talent um uh from K through 12 uh every grade level was represented. Um and I pre and it and you can still go there. It's going to be up I think through May 5th. Um and I appreciate the effort that uh Mr. Ireland's um of administrative assistant um helped out with setting it all up as well as the art teachers with the mounting and the matting of of the artwork to have the artwork be uh visibly pleasing. All right, thank you very much. Yeah, just a quick comment in the u in the philosophic teacup, but uh this financial
175situation that we're in, you know, and as has been pointed out, it's this has been difficult to fight in the legislature because twothirds of the districts in the state are happy because they're getting tons of money. Maybe not tons of money, but there are districts in the state uh that have gone to proflegate spending. They're getting reprimanded for irresponsible and indulgent spending. Uh you could name a few of the cities in the state and it's a manifestation what that is. It's a manifestation of a governing philosophy that essentially is from those who have to those who need. That's what it is. and it's created this flow and this expectation. You know, we're not paying our fair share. But yet there are districts that are being reprimanded for, you know, paying for banquetss and all kinds
176of other indulgent activities. So that's a manifest. It's not just a mistake. It's not just an oversight. It's a manifestation of a philosophy. how you think things ought to be and until there are changes in how that mix takes place. Um, we will be here. I predict we will be here next year. I hope you're really wrong. I hope so too. Yep. But yeah, there's no trying to predict this is like predicting the weather in three years, right? Yeah. Okay. Um, I will add one comment just as a note. Um, as many of you may have seen online, uh, there was a former employee in the district who was charged um, a couple of years ago. Um, they were scheduled to be, uh, sentenced on July 23rd that has been pushed back to September. um
177they are not giving us any more detailed information than that, but hopefully when September rolls around, we can put a bow on this, get some more information and share with the community. Um so there's not really details to share. Obviously, if they're in their investigation, they won't share information, but um we were alerted that it is in fact September and that hopefully will be wrapping up sometime soon this calendar year. Mr. Hugh, I know the vote has been done. It's it's a done deal. I just wanted to I'm still I'm still processing it. This um I think the word is I'm stunned. I knew I expected, but I'm still stunned. Um but mainly because of the sheer magnitude of the increase. In the presentation today, it was said that TW we lost over um S2
178$26 million in state aid. In this budget today, we raised $26 million. So, we're back to where we were in 2019 in terms of the state aid numbers. And then because of the um referendums that we did back in November 2023 as well as the July sorry the regular 2% tax cap increase and health benefits waiver from last year and then the additional July um increase the up to 9.9% although I guess we took a little bit less. We went up in two years $38 million. I'm just stunned. I cannot believe that we went from a $106 million tax levy in 2324 tax school year tound almost $145 million in two years. 36% increase and a $38 million increase. That just seems outrageous to me. and like ju I mean it's a it's a hu
179it's almost like we hit the lottery except that the people who paid for it are the taxpayers so they actually didn't get the lottery. Um and it was interesting because I was talking to somebody about this and they said well you know they were reflecting on this and I guess tongue and cheek they said well if you can't live within your means you should just raise your means. So I wish I could do that for my own personal Yeah. All right. So seeing no other comments, I will take a motion to adjurnn. So move second. All in favor. See you in a couple weeks. Thank you.